The Dickinson press., 1887-08-06
A LASSOING LESSON.
INCIDENT IN THE LIFE OF AN
EDITORIAL PHILOSOPHER.

INCIDENT IN THE LIFE OF AN
EDITORIAL PHILOSOPHER.
A Queer Looking Old Gentleman with
Note Book in Hand-Curious to Know
Something About the Lasso-Making
an Experimental Throw.
In 1850 l was rancher in Santa Clara
valley, California, engaged i'll the cultivation
Of grain, horses, pigs, chickens, and other
domestic produce. 1t was i'll the Berrycssa
district, q few miles northeast of San Jose,
and seven miles from AlviSo the head of San
Francisco bay navigation.
Que day, early i'll August, was out i'll the
mountains east of the valley, hunting after
my favoritc saddle horse. was on foot and
carried a "riatta' in my hand-a genuine
Spanish asso made of rawhide, same as is
universally made by Mcxicans, native Cali
foniai,s and "vaqueroS" generally. All l
had to do when l found MY horse was to
throw the ratta over his head, take half
hitch AROUND his nose, leap upon his back and
ride home. But dill not ind my horse.
After tramp of three or fours l was get
ting lack homeward. hungry and tired. AS
passed down through the foothills just east of
Niles ranch, / s!irl somebody sitting OH
rock. He was queer looking gentleman. of
medium stature, with Il gray coat, light felt
hat wh';" whiskers away under his chin and
n peculiar look generally. He had a note
book in his hand an,l was lusily engaged
in writing thar he did not notice my approach
until WAS within n few feet of him.
| To my Salu;ation of Good evening, sir"
he conrtco,>ly responded; then said: caro-
you acquainted around here, sir!'
ayes. sir, for some years past. l am ranch
| ing Just down helow vontier. where YOU see
that big evergreen tree"
The whole valley lay spread out i'll pastoral
panoramic beauty, checkercl off into neatly
fenced farms, with lovely groves, orchards,
vineyards gardens, cottage dwellings and
| farmhou>cS scattered all over the landscape.
Now, that's Alviso," said he, "but what
road is THAT running south from it among
the trees!'
That's the Santa Clara road, sir, and tho
town You see there among the trees is Santa
Clara. where the old Mission church is and
the old orchard, established by the Jesuit
fathers leo years ago"
TAKING DOWN ITEMS.
He noted this down, and asked: "What's
that heavy row of trees beyond Santa Clara
to the southward!'
"rhat's the Alameda, n beautifully shaded
rond three miles long, from Santa Clara to
the pueblo or city, of San Jose. 1t has two
rows OF shade trees Oh each side, planted
about 100 years ago by the native Indians,
under tho direction of the priests Every
Sunday this road used to he swept clean, and
the holy fathers, or padres, with their congre-
CATION, used to march in procession from the
pueblo to the church at the Mission for divine
service Thav's San jose you see Off to the
left"
"Yes, l know was there yesterday. It's
a very nice town"
He eyed me somewhat curiously, and re-
marked: "That's what they call lasso.
isn't it.'
ayes, sir; I've been out hunting after q
stray horse, but couldn't find him, so I'm just
getting home. I'll get after him on horse
back tomorrow"
"Bnt always thought the lasso had to be
used exclusively 10y u man on horseback
How would you run horse down OH foot and
catch him with that rope!'
"Dear me, 10; l wouldn't run after the
horse at all. I'd just approach him quietly,
speak to him gently and try to pet him, and
slip the rope over his neck. But if he tried to
play shy rd just throw the loop of the lnsso
open, this way, and drag it along behind mo
thus, watch my chance, and give it n side cast
this way, getting it over his head before he
had Il chance to dodge"
The old gent had been sitting sort of side
ways on the rock all this time, from some
peculiar reason, as he subsequently explained,
but right here he arose, laid down his note
T..
may say cleverly done. If you can lasso a
wild Texas steer rs well as yon did that bush
all you have to do is to godowninto Colorado
or New Mexico and make your fortune. Let
me try that
swing it few times around your head after
the regular horseback style, and give it cast
over the critters horns, like this"
| EMISENTLY SUCCESSFUL.
II see, said the old chap, with an interest
ed twinkle of his pleasant gray eye "Here
goes for you; you just stand still"
His cast was eminently successful, for he
caught himself by the left leg and right
shoulder.
Bravo" said 1; 'that's fancy cast to
catch the animal by the shank. 1t takes an
experienced vaquero to do that. If you
| y
couldn't have done it. That's a chance they
have to watch"
"All right; but see here now, Just imagine
me a bullock, and III hold up my arms this
way like horns"
"Just SO, and you just buck around like a
Wild steer in corral" The old fellow did
jerk himself around some, but with scicn-
efc whirl or two of the lasso let go and
| ,a,,Oht him vary upar arDlI,I1 tiia waist
"Thnt'll do shouted he. as gave the lasso
n lively jerk to make him realize the stua-
ton. "You'll do; you can go home"
Thank you, sir; we've had q little fun; and
now may ask your name!'
ooh, yes, certainly. It's Greeley; Horace
Gre,4ey."
"The devil!"
"Oh, no, my dear hoy: it's only me. Shall
be glad to meet you again some time. Good
evening""
"Good evening" responded 1 as turned
homeward musing over the queer adventure
and the fact that had actually interviewed
and practically lassoed the eminent philoso-
pher and renowned editor of The New York
Tribune, Horace Greeley.
! An evening or two afterward ATTENDED! n
public lecture he delivered from stand
erected on the main street of San Jose to an
| immense audience. He was suffering con-
siderably from lalneness, the result of numer-
Gus boils, which he explains on page 3S2 of
bis "Recollcctions of Busy Llfe'-Chcago
| Times.
| Heredity in Handwriting.
| Do you believe in heretiity in handwriting?
A friend advocates the theory to me with
much show Of reason. His life has been a